The Dangers of Poker Drugs

Increase adrenaline

Drugs like cocaine, crystal methamphetamine and other stimulants affect adrenaline function in the body. I have never personally taken cocaine or crystal meth, but I imagine it simulates many of the feelings that I experience when I have a win of over $10,000 in a tournament. However, most poker players aren’t fortunate enough to be able to go out and win a tournament. In fact, most tournament players are lucky to win anything over 10% in the tournaments they enter, which require hours and sometimes days of play. For many, the easy shortcut is to take a hit of a stimulant that can artificially reproduce these highs.

Enhance performance

People also take certain drugs to enhance performance. Some people get nervous and use alcohol to calm their nerves. It hides their fears when they are running a bluff with a marginal hand. When I won my first tournament, I started my day at the final table with a double shot of bourbon because I was feeling tense. It made me feel calm and composed, and I went from the smallest stack at the table to the winner. There is no question that I got lucky, but it also gave me the swagger I needed to bully the table when it got shorthanded. TJ Cloutier described Bill Smith, the 1985 World Champion, as the greatest player in the world when he was slightly drunk. However, TJ also said he was about the worst player in the world if he drank beyond a certain point. So there is a balance. Alcohol can temporarily enhance your play, but there is also the danger of going overboard and then diminishing your faculties.

Improve endurance

Poker players may also use substances to improve their endurance or maintain their energy. Caffeine is still the most widely used drug for this purpose. It’s perfectly legal and offered right there in the casino. And it’s no longer limited to coffee and sodas; it’s a key ingredient in many energy drinks. There are also herbal derivatives like ginseng that are making their way into the milieu of stimulants and that are designed to heighten awareness and energy. Other stimulants are also employed for a more profound effect. There are drugs like Adderal, Ritalin and Phentermine, which are prescription drugs for ADD and weight loss, and amphetamines/stimulants that are widely used to keep players awake at the table, even though they are prescribed primarily for other purposes. Finally, there are players who use cocaine and crystal meth not to get high, but as a stimulant to stay up for many hours, if not days, of play.